Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
Under the leadership of South Texas College President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., the college has created new departments that are crucial to the success of the college and its students. One of the newest departments formed –External Affairs.
Led by Director Olivia Gomez, External Affairs serves as the bridge between the college and the community. It builds and fosters relationships with business leaders, nonprofit organizations and government partners to ensure every collaboration aligns with student success.
“We are storytellers, bridge builders and problem solvers,” said Gomez. “From securing sponsorships that fund scholarships and our food pantries to partnering with organizations that provide housing and workforce opportunities, we work to ensure STC remains deeply rooted in and responsive to the needs of the Rio Grande Valley.”
Gomez, who worked eight years in county government, said she witnessed firsthand how access to education is the single greatest equalizer in breaking the cycle of poverty.
The RGV, she said, ranks as one of the highest regions with extreme poverty, inspiring her to evolve the External Affairs department into a central hub for partnership development, strategic outreach and resource mobilization.
“The relationships we are building today, open doors for students tomorrow, whether through new industry collaborations, sponsorships or community-based initiatives,” said Gomez.
Working with an array of community partners such as Hidalgo and Starr County officials, United Way of South Texas, Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA), the Salvation Army, local chambers of commerce, economic development corporations and private entities, the STC External Affairs team – Gomez and coordinator Myra De La Garza, have already been able to transform STC through several initiatives.
The department most recently secured a $16,000 contribution from United Way to sustain the college’s food pantries, ensuring no student must choose between a meal and a textbook.
The team also initiated STC’s first “Rebuilding Futures” panel discussion, which brought together multiple elected officials, Texas Workforce Commission, local employers and community leaders to explore how higher education can create pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.
“Our team ensures that STC remains visible, connected and relevant in a rapidly changing environment,” said Gomez. “We don’t represent the college, we represent its promise to students and to the community. Through our relationships and initiatives, we connect institutional resources with real-world needs. This allows STC to not only respond to opportunities, but create them.”
Additionally, External Affairs promotes a culture of caring, introduced by President Ricardo Solis to help students succeed, and works with local housing agencies and nonprofit partners to provide housing vouchers, childcare assistance and transportation support, eliminating barriers that often prevent students from reaching their academic goals.
Furthermore, the department has partnered with the college’s Student Services Department to launch registration pop-up events in rural communities across Hidalgo and Starr Counties, bringing college access directly to colonias and other underserved areas, and with STC’s Academic Services to connect local employers, like L&F Distributors, to customized training programs specific to their industries.
“All of these opportunities reinforce our shared mission to break cycles of poverty through education and opportunity,” she said. “We are opening new career advancement pathways for our students and community members through innovative programs that directly strengthen student persistence, completion and career outcomes.”
Gomez is a product of STC, beginning her college journey at the school that offered affordability and a strong foundation. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and is one year shy of receiving a doctorate degree in Leadership and Higher Education.
She credits her educational and career experiences to the success she has seen at STC as the director of External Affairs and said it will continue to guide her mission in fostering strategic partnerships and community engagement.
“My experiences have given me a deep understanding of how policy, partnerships and communication intersect. Those lessons and relationships have been invaluable in my leadership role at STC,” Gomez said. “I’m living proof of how STC changes lives.”
Looking ahead, the External Affairs department plans to expand STC’s regional and statewide footprint through strategic collaborations and resource development focused on building a sustainable ecosystem where education, workforce readiness and community advancement intersect.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Affairs Rodney Rodriguez, Ph.D., said overall, External Affairs ensures that STC remains a driving force for opportunity, empowerment and economic prosperity.
“In the coming years, under the leadership of Olivia (Gomez), we aim to formalize additional philanthropic partnerships and grow external funding sources,” he said. “The department is new, but is leading with force and growing exponentially. Through effective advocacy, we will continue to support student success, advance higher educational opportunities that are accessible and affordable, increase student enrollment and drive regional impact. I’m proud of the team we have assembled, and this is just the beginning.”
Information source: STC
